By: Nura Garba
The Covid-19 Fund Raising Committee of Kano State under the Chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello, on Tuesday, 7th April, 2020 submitted its report to the Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The god news is that ever since the inauguration of this high profile Committee, stakeholders and concerned Kano people have been showering encomiums about the suitability of the Chairman, who many believe is transparent, credible, committed and accountable.
Inaugurated on 29th March, 2020, the Committee with 41 members was given a one-week period to complete its assignment and present its report as stipulated in the Terms of Reference as follows:
- To identify organizations, groups, individuals and seek for donations
- To identify materials needed as donations and collect same from donors
- To identify beneficiaries of the donations and assess their needs
- To map-out modalities/strategies for the distribution of the donations
- To distribute the donations to identified beneficiaries
- Any other duty that may be assigned or deemed appropriate by the Committee
- To submit report within one-week from the date of inauguration
While many people thought the task was arduous and herculean to be executed within the stipulated time, the Chairman of the Committee, Professor Bello saw it as an extension of his many responsibilities. No doubt many dubbed him as workaholic.
To make things easy, seven (7) sub-committees were formed to execute their activities. A part from finance sub-committees, there are also publicity and modalities for distribution committees.
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Part of the activities conducted by the Committee, was the hasty distribution of 64,530 pieces of eggs (2,151 crates) donated by the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Kano State Chapter to some organizations whose mandate was providing succour to vulnerable people. The Committee embarked on the distribution due to the perishable nature of the products (eggs), especially at this period of intense heat, which is capable of spoiling them.
The eggs were distributed to Ministry of Health for distribution to children with severe acute malnutrition in 13 local government hospitals; orphanage homes; rehabilitation cetres,; Kurmawa Correctional Centre; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital; Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Hospital; Kano Hisbah Board; Police Clinic and Waqaful Khairat.
One interesting thing to note is that as at 7th April, 2020, just within the 7-day ultimatum given to the Committee, it was able to realize Three Hundred and Sixty Four Million, Six Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty Naira and Fifty Kobo (N364, 695, 780:50) with Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata as the highest donor (N300,000,000). This is in addition of over N150m worth of materials donated by other donors.
While Professor Bello was busy spearheading the activities of this Committee, he still keeps visiting his office of the Vice Chancellor everyday to treat files and attend other correspondences attached to the office. Despite that, the Committee lived up to its expectation by submitting the report at the stipulated time.
The Governor was highly appreciative and happy with the way the Committee executed its function, even though, he had prior knowledge that the mandate given to the man of timbre and calibre could execute it professionally.
He said that he was satisfied with the distribution modalities proposed by the Committee while commending the efforts put by members of the committee and assuring that their work would continue as a committee.
Not only because Prof Bello is a mathematician by profession, but transparency, accountability and discipline in the way he carries out his responsibilities speak volume of his intimidating credentials.
Kano State has not recorded single case of CoronaVirus but the measures taken will go a long way in containing the spread of the virus.
The onus here is that the Committee’s work should be extended because as it is now, many philanthropic individuals and organizations are willing to donate in order to help the needy ones in this trying time.
To sum it up, the Committee has really done well and lived up to the expectation of many people. For Prof Yahuza Bello, he once again proved his mettle as a visionary, credible and transparent leader who can at all times spearhead responsibilities with doggedness and zest.
Nura Garba writes from Bayero University, Kano
